The Lao An System (LAS) teaches the use and optimization of biotensegrity to enjoy various benefits in both sports and everyday life.

At its core, biotensegrity describes how structures maintain their stability through a balance of tension and compression. This principle can be applied to the human body, where bones act as the compressive elements and muscles, tendons, as well as connective tissue, serve as the tensile elements.

The efficient distribution of forces within this network allows practitioners of internal martial arts like Tai Chi, Bagua Zhang, Xingyi, or Yi Quan to make their movements maximally effective with minimal energy expenditure. So effective, in fact, that laypeople might perceive the resulting power and the influence on their opponent or training partner as unreal.

**Internal Martial Arts and Biotensegrity**  
Tai Chi movements are fluid and holistic. Each movement supports and complements the next, with the transmission of force within the body optimized according to the principle of biotensegrity. This leads to improved posture and increased efficiency in movements.

Through continuous, soft movements, the flow of force in the body is regulated according to the "Push and Pull" principle. This means that the movements do not only engage isolated muscle groups but involve the entire body structure.

**Response to External Forces:** Tai Chi teaches how to respond to external forces with flexibility and adaptability rather than rigid opposition. The principles of biotensegrity help distribute forces across the body’s network, thereby reducing the strain on specific body parts.

**Health Benefits:** Applying biotensegrity in Tai Chi not only leads to more effective martial techniques but also brings a range of health benefits. These include improved joint function, strengthened muscles, and enhanced overall vitality.

Understanding biotensegrity in Tai Chi enables practitioners to improve their physical and mental health while delving deeper into the philosophical and meditative aspects of this ancient martial art. By learning to move their bodies according to these principles, Tai Chi practitioners can achieve a harmony between body and mind that is rare in modern life.